311795
Network analysis of organizations providing mammography in a rural region
METHODS: A four-part, 26-question survey was emailed (October 2012) to representatives of 54 organizations in a rural cancer coalition. It measured the number of organizations that sent and received patients for federally funded screening mammography (BCCCP). The coalition comprised 21 health departments, 10 regional hospitals, 2 treatment centers, 4 community-based organizations, 1 triage hospital, and other groups. Analysis was conducted using standard network analysis software.
RESULTS: While 50 out of 54 organizations responded, they reported ties with 101 additional organizations not part of the coalition. Of this total 104 organizations were active in the BCCCP network, with 307 referral links. On average the shortest referral path from one unconnected organization to another would pass through 3 other organizations. Reciprocity was 0.31, meaning about 1/3 of these 104 organizations both sent and received referrals from each other. The state BCCCP office sent and received the most direct referrals, but the Outpatient Services at a regional triage hospital was most influential regarding the flow of referrals between organizations.
CONCLUSIONS: This study quantifies and visualizes sparse mammography referral linkages in a geographically dispersed rural network which women must navigate to obtain screening. Data will inform agency recruitment to the coalition to improve service delivery.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and preventionSystems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health
Learning Objectives:
Identify organizational networks that send and receive patients,
Describe techniques to measure organizational relationships,
Discuss approach for priority planning for cancer coalition.
Keyword(s): Women's Health, Cancer Prevention and Screening
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I founded the Eastern Carolina Cancer Coalition, including inviting organizations within the coalition to participate in the network analysis survey. I conceptualized the idea to use network analysis to identify gaps in mammography resources and as way to visualize geographic distances women must travel to obtain a screening mammogram and follow up services funded by BCCCP. I wrote the abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.